Petunia plant named ‘Duesurblusky’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Duesurblusky’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely basal branching; and single flowers that are purple in color.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Petunia×hybrida cultivar Duesurblusky.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name Duesurblusky.

The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely branching Petunias with large flowersand attractive flower coloration.

The new Petunia originated from a cross pollination made by the Inventorin 1997 of a proprietary Petunia selection identified as code numberE-19-2, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with a proprietaryPetunia selection identified as code number S-19-3, not patented, as themale, or pollen parent. The new Petunia was selected as a single plantfrom the resulting progeny by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany in1998, on the basis of its attractive flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttingstaken in Rheinberg, Germany since 1999, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Duesurblusky have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duesurblusky’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Duesurblusky’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely basal branching.

3. Single fowers that are purple in color.

Compared to plants of the female parent, the selection E-19-2, plants ofthe new Petunia differ in flower color. Compared to plants of the maleparent, the selection S-19-3, plants of the new Petunia have smallerleaves, smaller flowers and differ in flower color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the cultivarSurfinia Blue, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inRheinerg, Germany, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of thecultivar Surfinia Blue in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Petunia were shorter than plants of the cultivarSurfinia Blue.

2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller leaves than plants of thecultivar Surfinia Blue.

3. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of thecultivar Surfinia Blue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newPetunia. The photograph comprises a top perpective view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘Duesurblusky’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Duesurblusky has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the spring in Rheinberg, Germany, undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were about 16weeks from cuttings and were grown in containers. During the productionof the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and lightlevels were about 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched once about three weeksafer planting.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Duesurblusky.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida selection identified as codenumber E-19-2, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida selection identified as codenumber S-19-3, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 7 days at 20° C. Winter: About 10days at 20° C.

Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 21 days at 20° C. Winter: About 28days at 20° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous, white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Form.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; upright and outwardlyspreading; eventually cascading. Moderately vigorous.

Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio containersand landscape applications.

Plant height.—About 26 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 25 cm.

Branching habit.—Freely basal branching with about five to six lateralbranches per plant.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 29 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internodelength: About 1.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144B.

Folige description.—Arrangement: Before flowering, alternate; afterflowering, opposite; simple. Quantity per lateral branch: About 16.Length: About 5 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:Obtuse. Base: Attenuate: Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Pubescent; leathery. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Youngand fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137A. Young and fullyexpanded foliage, lower surface: 137C. Venation, upper and lowersurfaces: 144B. Petiole length: About 7 mm. Petiole diameter: About 3mm. Petiole color: 144B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers; flowers face mostlyupward or outward; axillary; about four flowers and flower buds perlateral branch.

Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; spring until frost in theautumn; flowering continuous. Plants start flowering about nine weeksafter planting. Flowers persistent.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About 4 days; flowers persistent.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 5.5 cm. Tube length: About 3.1 cm. Throatdiameter, distal end: About 1 cm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 3mm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Ovoid.Color: 59A.

Corolla.—Quantity/arrangement: Five fused petals; funnelform. Petallength from throat: About 2.5 cm. Petal width: About 2.4 cm. Petalshape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire;slightly ruffled. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,velvety. Petal color: When opening, upper surface: 83A. When opening,lower surface: 86C. Fully opened, upper surface: 83B; flower color doesnot fade with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: 86C.Flower throat (inside): 103A. Flower tube (outside): 59A. Venation,upper petal surface: 93A. Venation, lower petal surface: 144A. Venation,throat: 93A. Venation, tube: 144.

Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals fused atbase, star-shaped. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape:Strap-like; elongate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper andlower surfaces: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface: 137B. Lower surface:137C.

Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1.25 mm. Angle: Erect toslightly bent. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:144B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About five. Anthershape: Ovoid. Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther color: 92B. Pollenamount: Abundant. Pollen color: 122B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.Pistil length: About 2.8 cm. Style length: About 2.2 cm. Style color:144C. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 143A. Ovary color: 144B.

Seed/fruit.—Seed nor fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been notedto be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed totolerate temperatures from 2 to 38° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named